Expanding (3+1)-dimensional Universe From a Matrix Model for Superstrings

Asato Tsuchiya, Shizuoka Univ. & KITP

We reconsider the matrix model formulation of type IIB superstring
theory in (9+1)-dimensional space-time. Unlike the previous works in
which the Wick rotation was used to make the model well-defined, we
regularize the Lorentzian model by introducing infrared cutoffs in both
the spatial and temporal directions. Monte Carlo studies reveal that the
two cutoffs can be removed in the large-N limit and that the theory thus
obtained has no parameters other than one scale parameter. Moreover, we
find that three out of nine spatial directions start to expand at some
"critical time", after which the space has SO(3) symmetry instead of
SO(9).